EPA says will not tighten dust rule for farms

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said on Monday it will not tighten controls on dust particles on farms when it sends the rule to the White House for its regular five-year review.

Some Republicans, including presidential candidate Herman Cain, have said the EPA would expand the rule, which mainly affects heavy industry and vehicles, to include farms.

The agency sent a letter late last week to Senate Agriculture Committee chairwoman Debbie Stabenow and fellow farm-state Democrat Amy Klobuchar saying it will keep the soot standards in place.

Critics have used the potential of farm-dust regulation as a headline issue in complaining of runaway regulation. Nebraska Sen Mike Johanns, a Republican, said he has 26 co-sponsors for a bill to bar regulation of dust from farm fields and dirt roads.

An EPA spokeswoman said the letter should end the "myth" of broader farm-dust regulation. Concern arose from proposals during the review process for stricter rules.

Microscopic particles can be inhaled and can cause serious health issues such as difficult breathing and irregular heartbeat. Power plants, factories, motor vehicles, fires and construction are among the sources of soot, haze and dust.

At present, EPA regulates dust, formally known as particulate matter, up to 10 microns in diameter under anti-pollution laws. By comparison, a human hair is about 70 microns in diameter. Sand and particles larger than 10 microns are not regulated.

"Based on my consideration of the scientific record, analysis provided by EPA scientists and advice from the Clean Air Science Advisory Council, I am prepared to propose the retention -- with no revision -- of the current PM10 standard and form when it is sent to the (White House) for interagency review," wrote EPA administrator Lisa Jackson in the letter to the senators.

The National Farmers Union applauded "final clarification" by EPA that it does not plan to regulate farm dust.

"We hope this action finally puts to rest the misinformation regarding dust regulation and eases the minds of farmers and ranchers across the country," said NFU president Roger Johnson.

Livestock and farm groups have said it would be impossible to comply with stricter rules on exposure to dust, which they say is a natural part of farming.

Farm groups routinely see EPA as intruding into agriculture and private property. They say EPA may further restrict "spray drift" from pesticide applications. They say the EPA "pollution diet" for the Chesapeake Bay could foreshadow similar regulations in other major watersheds.